Indiana Fever sensation Caitlin Clark was among the highest-earning female athletes in 2024, raking in approximately $11.1 million. However, the vast majority of her income did not come from playing in the WNBA. Despite being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft and quickly emerging as the league’s most recognizable star, her actual WNBA earnings—including salary and bonuses—amounted to just around $100,000.
Even if Indiana had opted to give Clark the highest possible contract right away, her salary would still have been capped at $208,219 under the current WNBA collective bargaining agreement (CBA). To put that into perspective, the NBA’s minimum salary for the 2024-25 season is $1,157,153—more than five times what Clark could possibly earn. This stark discrepancy highlights how underpaid WNBA players are, a point her agent, Erin Kane, recently emphasized in an interview with ESPN.
According to Kane, Clark’s contributions to the WNBA far exceed what she can be paid under the league’s current financial structure. “Will Caitlin Clark ever be paid by the WNBA what she’s truly worth? I don’t think that’s possible,” Kane stated.
Clark is not the only star player facing this financial imbalance. Kane also represents other WNBA standouts, including Napheesa Collier, the 2023 MVP runner-up, and Arike Ogunbowale of the Dallas Wings. She argues that the entire league’s player base is underpaid, not just its biggest names.
“Caitlin is part of a much larger group of athletes who all deserve higher salaries,” Kane explained. “She should be recognized for what she’s done and the financial impact she’s had on the league. It’s really that simple. The top priority has always been getting WNBA players the compensation they deserve for their performance on the court. I’m very hopeful that the upcoming CBA negotiations will bring meaningful progress.”
Although Clark may never face financial hardship, given her lucrative endorsement deals—which accounted for nearly $11 million of her income in 2024—her salary from the WNBA does not reflect her actual value to the league. Her marketability and on-court excellence have significantly boosted the WNBA’s visibility, yet the league’s pay structure remains far behind what top players in other professional sports earn.
The WNBA and its players’ union are currently in discussions regarding a new CBA, and it is widely expected that salaries will see a substantial increase. However, unless the league completely eliminates its cap on maximum contracts, Kane believes that Clark, along with many other elite players, will never be compensated in a way that truly matches their contributions.
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